Choosing a Cat
'Choosing a Cat' gives you some fascinating insights and outlines the history behind the domestication of the feline species.
We explain their place in civilization and the origins and characteristics of
the various breeds of cat. The latter part of the
article describes the pros, cons and benefits of cat ownership, what to
expect, what to choose and what you need to do.
We encourage potential cat owners to think carefully about what sort of
cat they would like and whether they have suitable accommodation, time and
finances. Kittens are cuddly but a mature cat that requires re-homing will
have already developed a character that you can see and bond to
immediately and be extremely satisfying. Pedigree cats have specific
charms and characters. 'Moggies' are fascinating in their individuality -
the choice is yours.
Origins of the Cat
The most likely candidate for the ancient ancestor of the domestic cat is Martelli's wild cat (Felis lumensis), a species which is now extinct. About 600,000 to 900,000 years ago it probably gave rise to another species, Felis silvestris, from which three distinct types evolved according to the region and environment which they lived in. These were the central European or Forest wild cat (F. silvestris silvestris), the Asiatic desert cat (F. silvestris ornata) and the African wild cat (F. silvestris lybica). The African wild cat inhabited most of Asia and North Africa, and because the process of domestication of the cat occurred mainly in the Middle East, the African wild cat was almost certainly the principle ancestor of the modern domestic cat.
Consider the environment and diet of the African wild cat then try to relate that to how we care for our pet cats. Compare with dogs.
Domestication of the Cat
For the cat, as for other domestic animals, the process of domestication occurred over a long period of time. Wild cats would have become associated with humans once humans stopped being hunter-gatherers and formed permanent settlements where they farmed. Harvested grain would be stored in grain stores which would attract mice and rats which would have attracted wild cats. Human agriculturists would quickly see the advantage of encouraging cats to help control the vermin, so a loose but mutually beneficial association would have been forged.
When the process of domestication started is unclear, estimates rely on archaeological discoveries of cat remains that can be shown to be closely associated with humans. Although various remains have been found in Egyptian archaeological sites dating to 6700BC, there is no firm evidence to suggest that these were domesticated cats, in fact they are more likely to have been wild cats. If finding a cat skeleton buried with a person is evidence of domestication then this is first seen about 5000BC in Egypt. However it was not until 2500BC that cats were first depicted in Egyptian tomb art. Cat remains from Egypt around 2000BC could well be from a domestic variety and paintings and inscriptions from the same period portray cats in situations that suggest that they were domesticated. From this time on there is plenty of evidence to show that cats became well established in Egyptian homes.
It has been suggested that this process of domestication of the African wild cat that happened in Egypt around 2000BC took place because of a genetic change. The basis for this reasoning is that domestic cats have kittens that are tame while wild cats have kittens that are aggressive. Wild cat kittens can be tamed but they are not born tame. Therefore the reasoning goes that there must have been a genetic change to make domestic kittens inherently tame. This genetic change resulted in cats loosing their wild temperament and gaining a domestic temperament. This genetic change that results in tame kittens also seems to prevent the development of some adult behaviour patterns that are seen in wild cats. Domestic cats retain juvenile behaviour patterns and don't progress to the adult behaviour seen in wild cats. This retention of juvenile behaviour is known as neotony. Adult wild cats are solitary but a close family group is formed when a female gives birth to and rears her kittens. As the wild cat kittens mature they again become loners. This is not the case with domestic cats which retain juvenile behaviour and remain in groups. Even domestic cats which become feral tend to stay together in colonies.
This genetic change could have come about by a domestication mutation or selective breeding by humans. People would choose to keep and breed the cats that were easily managed. Those displaying neotony or juvenile characteristics were more family oriented and less independent than adult cats and were therefore more suited to life within a human family. This process of domestication is the same that occurred with the dog.
Despite domestication a cats wild temperament is just below the surface and not all cats show the same degree of tameness. There is a wide range of temperaments within the domestic cat population, some cats are extremely tame others have a definite wild streak. Lack of aggression in domestic cats needs to be reinforced by human contact form an early age. If not some of the wild cats temperament starts to reappear. For example, kittens born to a domestic cat that has become feral are distrustful of humans and have to be subjected to basic taming in order to adapt to living in a human home.
Spread of Cats
As trade routes developed around the Mediterranean and spread into Asia they took cats with them. Around 900BC the Phoenician traders took cats to Italy and from there they slowly spread across Europe. During the cats spread across Europe genes from the European wild cat were introduced. The Roman army took cats all over western Europe to protect their feed stores. Cats arrived in England around 1000AD with Viking settlers.
All early cats were shorthaired but in eastern Asia longhaired varieties were being developed by selectively breeding from cats with the gene for longhair. This gene for longhair spread from southern Russia into Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran eventually appearing in the Angora and Persian breeds. Longhaired cats arrived in Italy from Turkey in the 16th century.
The first colonists of the New World took shorthaired cats with them, later settlers took a variety of cats with them to Australia and New Zealand.
The oldest coat colours have had time to spread all over the world, they include black, blue (which is a dilute form of black) and orange (ginger). The Siamese and Burmese colour patterns are more recent and originated in south-east Asia, they have been perpetuated and spread because of human interest.
The heavier, thick set body type, found in British Shorthairs shows genetic influence of the European wild cat. The foreign and Oriental breeds retain the fine body of the African wild cat.
Development of Pedigree Breeds
It was not until the middle of the 19th century that people in Britain and Europe started to selectively breed cats and record their pedigrees. The breeding programs started with ordinary moggies also known as domestic shorthaired cats (DSH). Breeders selected individuals for their breeding programs depending on their body shape and coat colour. From these ancestors through years of selective breeding the British and European Shorthair breeds have been created. In America the same process occurred with the descendants of cats taken over by settlers 200 years earlier. Selective breeding from this stock has resulted in the American Shorthair which has quite different characteristics to the British and European Shorthairs. During this period there were longhaired domestic cats around but the pedigree
longhair breeds initially came from the Angora cat which originated in Turkey and later form longhaired breeds imported from Persia and Afghanistan. The breeds developed from cats from Persia and Afghanistan quickly became known as Persians and became very popular at the expense of the Angora which almost disappeared. By the end of the 19th century pedigree cats were being imported and exported and the Siamese, Russian Blue and Abyssinian had reached Britain. In the 20th century the spread of pedigree cats accelerated and new breeds and colour varieties were also developed.
Cat Shows as we know them today were the idea of an Englishman called Harrison Weir who held the first National Cat Show in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London. As interest in showing cats grew in Britain the National Cat Club was formed in 1887 and Harrison Weir was its president. It established a stud book to register pedigree cats and record their pedigrees. Later the National Cat Club amalgamated with another club to become the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). In 1983 a further registering body was established called the Cat Association of Britain (CAB). Now most countries have at least one governing body which in addition to registration of pedigree cats also oversee the standards for each recognised breed. These breed standards are regularly reviewed and provide guidelines for breeders and judges alike.
There are now seven basic groups of cat, eight if you include the most popular group of all cats , the non-pedigree domestic moggie.
1) Non-pedigree
2) Longhair Persian Type
3) Longhair Non-Persian Type
4) British and American Shorthairs
5) Other Shorthair Breeds
6) Oriental Shorthairs
7) Burmese
8) Siamese
The popularity of pedigree cat breeds changes from one year to the next but some of the most popular are the Persian, Siamese, British Shorthair, Burmese, Birman, Main Coon, Abyssinian, and recently the Bengal.
Popular Cat Breed Characteristics
Persian - In Britain Persians are known for the purposes of breeding and showing as Longhairs. This group also contains Chinchillas. Persians have a stocky build with thick legs, a rounded head with a short nose and large eyes. The coat is full and thick and coat and eye colours vary. They are not generally temperamental and make good family pets although they do need daily grooming of up to an hour a day.
Exotics - The Exotic Shorthair is a relatively recent hybrid created in the USA by crossing American Shorthairs with Persians. The original intention was improve the Persian breed by creating a more Persian looking Persian, not to create a new breed type. However some of the cats produced were short haired Persian types which had the obvious advantage of reduced grooming. In 1986 the breed of Exotic Shorthair was recognised by the GCCF. Exotics are cobby like Persians without the long coat. While the coat is short it is plush and dense not flat like of the British Shorthair.
Siamese - These are medium sized cats with dainty, long, bone structure but strong muscles. The hind legs are longer than the fore legs, the body is tubular and the tail is whip like. The head is wedge shaped with almond shaped, often blue eyes which point towards a long nose the ears are large and pointed. The coat is short and fine with colour varieties at the points (the mask, ears, lower legs, feet and tail, the cooler areas). The body colour is paler but compliments the points. Siamese cats have a boisterous and intelligent temperament which means they are a handful and owners must be prepared to devote them plenty of time. They have a highly developed variety of cries for all occasions to gain attention. Despite this vocal nature it is a breed which dislikes loud noises. Siamese cats often attach themselves to one person and can become jealous if they that person pays attention to others. They are distrustful of strangers. They do not like being ignored or left for long periods because of their sensitive nature which renders them liable to mood swings and unpredictable behaviour. They are easy to train and enjoy games including acrobatics and twice weekly coat grooming. They can be very territorial and can become accomplished fighters and hunters. Siamese are a long lived breed and will normally see their 15th birthday.
British Shorthair - British and European Shorthairs are one in the same, the North American equivalent is the American Shorthair. It is a solid, strong, majestic, hardy and adaptable breed. Its stocky or cobby appearance is due to its broad chest, level back, short strong legs and thick tail. Its head is broad and round with well developed cheeks, the head sits on a short neck. The eyes are large and round and have a wide-awake expression. British Shorthairs are laid back enjoying both play and solitude. It is intelligent and accommodates to family life well provided there is a predictable routine. Its coat needs twice weekly grooming.
Burmese - The Burmese is described as a medium-sized, muscular breed. The legs are slender and the hind legs are slightly longer than the fore legs. The head tapers from high cheek bones in a medium-blunt wedge to a short well developed muzzle. The ears are medium sized with rounded points. There are a wide varity of colours but classically they are brown, the eyes are always yellow or gold. The Burmese is a sweet natured cat equally happy in a flat, town or country house. It is an athletic breed which enjoys games with is owner or other companion cats. They are intensely sociable and dislike being left alone and can have a tendency to jealousy.
Birman - Are large cats but less cobby than the Persian with long silky hair that tends to get wavy on the stomach. There is a well developed thick, heavy ruff and a bushy, plume like tail. Classically the body colour should be even and the point colour should be confined to the points but there should be symmetrical white feet. The coat required regular grooming but does not tend to mat. The head is broad and round with a Roman nose and wide based, rounded tipped ears. They are generally a very placid breed which is playful but not boisterous. They do not enjoy going outside that much but do like open spaces and do not like being confined which make boarding catteries a potential problem. Breeders in America have developed short-haired varieties known as Snowshoes.
Main Coon - A large, solid, rugged, muscular cat with a long, smooth, shaggy coat with a silky texture which is short on the face and shoulders but longer on the undercarriage and hind legs. The body is long with a level back and a broad chest and a medium length tail, the strong legs are set well apart. The head is large with a square chin and high cheek bones, the nose is broad and of a medium length. The ears are large and well tufted tapering to a point. The eyes are large, set well apart and slightly slant. There are many different coat colours. They make excellent household pets and often adopt one particular member of the family as a favourite. They have some semi-wild characteristics, they are good hunters and choose good hiding places to sleep and use as bolt-holes when startled and are impervious to the cold.
Abyssinian - The Abyssinian is a medium sized cat with a slender but muscular appearance. The tail has a thick base that tapers to a point. The head is medium with large pointed ears with tufts, the eyes are almond shaped and slightly slanted. The coat is short but long enough for each hair to have two or three bands of ticking. The Abyssinian is a good companion but is wary of strangers. They respond well to training and enjoy games.
Bengal - The Bengal is a wild cat hybrid resulting from crosses between domestic cats often the Egyptian Mau and the Asian Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis or Prionailurus bengalensis). In the first generation of hybrid the F1 kitten has an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) parent (usually the sire) and a domestic parent (usually the queen). An F1 kitten is one generation removed from the ALC. Male kittens of these early crosses are usually infertile so females are usually used as foundation sock. For this reason the F2 usually has an F1 mother and a domestic sire and is two generations removed form the ALC. The F3 usually has an F2 mother and a domestic sire and is three generations removed from the ALC. The ALC is protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and the early hybrids F1, F2, and F3 are often the subject of permits depending on the local authorities. These "close to the wild" hybrids require special care, handling and housing because their habits and temperament is unpredictable. Their feral, wild beauty makes them striking animals but their temperament is determined by each individuals inheritance. If an individual did not inherit the domestic gene from its domestic mother it will display a wild temperament. Careful selection of hybrids displaying a domestic disposition ensures that further generations meet the requirements of domesticity. The Domestic Bengal must be an F4 which is four generations removed from the ALC or a greater number of generations removed from the ALC. Bengal cats still tend to display a strong wild streak and are often described as having a feral expression. There are several colours (brown and the snows) and patterns (spotted and marble).
Benefits of Cat Ownership
Numerous studies have confirmed that there are psychological and medical benefits of cat ownership. For these reasons pets are being used in therapeutic programs for people with psychological for physical problems because they assist or facilitate recovery. For ordinary people cats provide:
- Companionship - this is the most important factor for most owners.
- Comfort and support - cats can provide apparent emotional support.
- Help to establish new friendships - cat owners are more socially interactive.
- Increased self-esteem - ownership and responsibility of care improve self-worth.
- An aid to leisure and relaxation - cat care and playing games.
- Increased hygiene - families with pets are more hygiene conscious.
- Benefits to children - improved social skills and the understanding the cycle of life.
- Benefits to elderly - companionship and a daily purpose.
- Therapeutic benefits - If you own a cat you are likely to:-
live longer,
have lower blood pressure,
have a reduced risk of heart attacks,
suffer less stress and gain more relief from tension,
have increased emotional strength, reduced risk of depression,
have improved motivation and purpose,
be less aggressive,
be less self-centred, more supportive of others and less judgmental.
Choosing a Cat
Not everyone chooses their cat, sometimes the cat chooses the owner. However if it is you doing the choosing then there are some important factors to first consider.
- Is your cat to be a companion or for breeding and showing?
- What other animals do you already have?
- Is your property suitable? (high rise flats and busy roads)
- Can you afford a cat?
- Have you got the time to care for a cat?
- Are there any asthmatics in the family?
Pedigree or Non-pedigree?
If you want to show and/or breed cats then your probably better off with a pedigree. The main advantage of pedigree cats is the ability to predict what sort of cat you are going to end up with. Good breeders will allow you to see the mother and father which is the best indicator of what your cat is likely to be like. Generally pedigree cats have predictable temperaments and physical characteristics and inherited faults. Responsible pedigree kitten breeders do not allow kittens to go to new homes before 12 weeks of age by which time they are likely to be house trained and vaccinated. These are the recommendations of the GCCF. Some breeders have adult cats that are surplus to requirements that are sometimes available as pets once they have been neutered. It is easier to determine the temperament of an adult cat compared to a kitten. To obtain contact details for breeders of pedigree cats you could search the internet, contact the GCCF, look in cat magazines of contact your vet.
Most pet cats are non-pedigree cats and you are unlikely to get much information about a kittens ancestry but if you're lucky you may get to meet the mother. Non-pedigree kittens are usually offered to homes between 6 and 8 weeks of age when they will be weaned, partly socialised but not house trained or vaccinated. Non-pedigree kittens and adult cats are often available from Animal Shelters. Kittens and cats that have been through Animal Shelters have an increased risk of exposure to and infections from contagious diseases. Kittens may be available form pet owners whose cats have had a litter and vets are often able to provide contact details in such cases.
Choosing the Sex
There is little to choose from between the sexes once they have been neutered. However if you want to breed then you probably want a female because male stud cats don't usually make good pets. Entire male stud cats are usually kept in separate out-door runs because of their antisocial scent-marking behaviour.
Choosing an Individual
If you are choosing a kitten from a litter firstly check the mother cat, check that she has no signs of illness and that she is of a mild temperament. Next check the kittens for the same criteria. You want to avoid kittens that are excessively fearful or aggressive as these are traits that may persist into adulthood. Look for bright, playful kittens not dull or lethargic kittens which have runny eyes and noses. Many diseases have incubation periods where an individual may be infected but shows no symptoms. Most disease incubation periods are less than a fortnight. Occasionally a family will take on what initially looked like a healthy cat or kitten but shortly after arrival at its new home it may start to show symptoms of disease. Any new arrival should receive an independent health check from your vet.
Many people, me included, believe it is better to get two kittens at once. This not only provides companionship for the cats but also allows an owner to realise that cats have very individual characters.
New cats should be kept in for at least a month before being let outside during the day and brought in at night, most road traffic accidents (RTA's) occur at night. Kittens should be kept in until they are immune to the major cat diseases, that is two weeks after their final vaccination, and until there are of a sufficient size to deal with neighbourhood cats. They can go outside if they are supervised but are best kept in until they are 5-6 months of age.
Integrating New Cats
One serious potential problem of introducing cats together is the spread of disease. These risks can be minimised by taking the following precautions. Ideally both newcomers and existing cats should be vaccinated and immune to the major cat diseases before introduction. The newcomer should be tested for any diseases that cannot be vaccinated against to prevent it introducing them to existing cats. The newcomer should be isolated from the existing cats for a fortnight before the introduction process begins to allow any incubating diseases to show themselves.
Generally speaking most cats are territorial and the one thing which really stresses them out is another cat moving into their territory. Cats are more likely to accept a kitten than another cat moving in on their territory because they consider it less of a threat. The introduction process should be slow, keep the newcomer separated in one room, allow its confidence to build and allow existing cats to become accustomed to its smell. Ideally a complete isolation period of 14 days should elapse before the introduction process begins. Cats are very smell oriented and this is an important factor in introducing cats. After the 14d feed the cats separately but interchange feeding and grooming equipment to mix the cats scents up. Another useful aid at this time is the "Feliway Diffuser" which emits an aroma that helps relax cats. After a week or two prepare to introduce the cats, cut both cats front claws to reduce the risks of injury and to reduce confidence levels slightly in both cats. Continue to feed them separately and ensure that there is plenty of food to avoid any competition.
Introducing new cats or kittens to existing dogs is much the same as for existing cats. Cats have basic instincts to hunt small mammals, birds and fish so any of these are existing pets then precautions must be taken to protect them.
Children need to be taught how to hold and carry a cat early on to avoid injury to themselves or the cat. Young babies in their cots or pushchairs should be protected from cats jumping onto them or sleeping on them. This is best achieved with cat nets that go over the top of cots.
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Choosing a Cat - March 2004
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'Choosing a Cat' from Isabelle Vets
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